Frequently Asked Questions

About Steady

How does Liftware Steady work?

Liftware Steady (previously marketed as “Liftware”) helps to counteract hand
tremors and stabilize movement to make it easier to enjoy a meal.

The stabilizing handle contains motion sensors that detect hand motion, and a small
onboard computer that distinguishes unwanted hand tremor from the intended movement
of the hand. To counteract hand tremor and stabilize the utensil, the onboard
computer directs two motors in the handle to move the utensil attachment in the
opposite direction of any detected tremor.

Is Liftware Steady right for me?

In general, Liftware Steady works most effectively for people with mild to moderate
(between 4 and 12 Hz) postural, intentional tremor in the upper limbs. The tremor
causes people regularly to spill food while eating, or leads people to bring their
heads at least halfway towards their utensil to meet food.

To see if Liftware Steady is right for you, you can download and take this simple test at home. If you don't have a printer, email us
support@liftware.com and ask us to mail one to
your home address. You can also watch videos of people using Liftware Steady.

Note that Steady provides limited benefit to:

People with intermittent tremor.

People with severe tremor, large-amplitude tremor (above 12Hz) or dystonia.

People whose hand tremor does not interfere with eating, or who spill only
rarely when using utensils to bring food to their mouth (typically tremors below 4
Hz).

The amount of benefit will also vary depending on factors that affect the intensity
of a person’s tremor at any given moment. These factors may include the use of
medications, amount of sleep, degree of stress, intensity of exercise, etc.

How effective is Liftware Steady?

Liftware Steady has been shown to be effective in an eleven-patient clinical study.
During the study, eleven subjects with essential tremor performed three tasks —
holding, eating, and transferring objects. When the technology used in Liftware
Steady was turned on, tremor amplitude was reduced by an average of 72% in the
holding task, 76% in the eating task, and 71% in the transferring task. These
statistically significant results suggest that Steady is likely to make eating
easier for people with hand tremor. The study was peer reviewed and published here:

However, please note that Liftware Steady may not be for everyone, and works most
effectively for people with mild to moderate (between 4 and 12 Hz) postural,
intentional tremor in the upper limbs.

Is Liftware Steady safe to use?

The stabilizing handle and utensil attachments contain small magnets similar in
strength to ordinary household magnets. If you have a cardiac pacemaker or other
implantable medical electronic device, follow your device’s directions for use
regarding magnets. The standard recommendation is to keep your implantable device
at least 6 inches from Liftware Steady because it contains small magnets. If you
have concerns about your implantable device, consult your healthcare provider.

There are no other known risks associated with the use of Liftware Steady. There
are also no contraindications for people using medications to treat their tremor,
or for people who have undergone Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery.

Using Steady

Where can I view the user guide?

Check the back of your Liftware Steady handle to see if you have Model 1.0, Model
2.0 or Model 2.1, then click to see the user guide for Model 1.0, Model 2.0 or Model 2.1, as
applicable. Please note, Steady was previously marketed as “Liftware.”

How do I turn Liftware Steady on?

We designed Liftware Steady to be simple to use. There is no on-off button as the
handle turns on automatically once an attachment is connected. You can then put
Steady to sleep by turning it over to rest face-down. Please note that this sleep
mode still consumes battery power. To turn Liftware Steady off completely, just
remove the attachment (e.g. the spoon attachment or the fork attachment) from the
handle.

How do I hold the handle?

The handle is designed so that you can hold it in a variety of positions. Feel free
to experiment with your grip to find the most comfortable position. You may also
find that certain hand positions work better for you and lead to greater stability
with Steady.

Please make sure, however, that you don’t grip the movable attachment (e.g. the
spoon attachment or the fork attachment) since that should be allowed to move
freely to counteract any tremors.

How do I clean Liftware Steady? Is it water resistant?

To clean Liftware Steady, first detach the attachment (such as the spoon attachment
or the fork attachment) from the stabilizing handle.

The attachment can be washed by hand with water or in the dishwasher, as you would
with other kitchenware.

The stabilizing handle can be wiped down with a damp sponge with mild detergent.
Antibacterial wipes and other antibacterial products are also great for
disinfecting the device. Never submerge the handle or the charger, hold it under
running water, or place it in the dishwasher.

How do I charge Liftware Steady?

To charge Liftware Steady, disconnect any attachments (e.g. the spoon attachment or
the fork attachment) from the stabilizing handle, then place the stabilizing handle
in the charging cradle. Make sure the charging cradle is connected to a powered USB
port using the provided cable. It takes up to three hours to fully charge the
stabilizing handle.

For chargers shipped on or after December 2, 2014 (model number marked underneath
the charger cradle): The LED blinks while charging and glows solid green when fully
charged.

For chargers shipped before December 2, 2014 (no text printed underneath the
charging cradle): The LED glows while the handle is charging, and turns off when
the handle is fully charged. If the light doesn't turn on, that means your handle
has a full charge.

How long does the battery last?

Battery lasts for at least one hour of continuous use (approximately 3 meals) on a
single charge.

Does the Liftware Steady charger work outside of the US?

The charger is a world-voltage power adapter (100/240 V) that plugs into a North
American wall plug. To use the charger outside the US, you can:

Use an international travel adapter and plug the charger into the adapter

Or plug the USB cable directly into a computer

Or plug the USB cable into a USB wall adapter designed for that country

Any other tips for using Steady?

Since anxiety can increase tremor, it might help to try out Liftware Steady for
the first time privately, without others watching. In general, it may also take a
few days to get used to using Liftware Steady, so give yourself some time when you
first get started.

Don't brace the hand that's holding the spoon. It's best if the hand is allowed
to continue moving freely so that Liftware Steady can do the work of steadying the
spoon.

It's normal for the spoon to move relative to the handle. This is normal and is
a sign that Steady is working to counteract the tremor.

Try using Liftware Steady with a larger, shallower bowl to make scooping
easier.